Bhagavad-gītā 9.32

Explain simply

Speaker: Śrī Kṛṣṇa

मां हि पार्थ व्यपाश्रित्य येऽपि स्युः पापयोनयः ।
स्त्रियो वैश्यास्तथा शूद्रास्तेऽपि यान्ति परां गतिम् ॥३२॥

māṁ hi pārtha vyapāśritya
ye 'pi syuḥ pāpa-yonayaḥ
striyo vaiśyās tathā śūdrās
te 'pi yānti parāṁ gatim

Word for word (synonyms)

mām
unto Me
hi
certainly
pārtha
O son of Pṛthā
vyapāśrītya
particularly taking shelter
ye
anyone
api
also
syuḥ
becomes
pāpa-yonayaḥ
born of a lower family
striyaḥ
women
vaiśyāḥ
mercantile people
tathā
also
śūdrāḥ
lower class men
te api
even they
yānti
go
parām
supreme
gatim
destination

Translation

O son of Pṛthā, those who take shelter in Me, though they be of lower birth—women, vaiśyas [merchants], as well as śūdras [workers]—can approach the supreme destination.

Purport

Other scriptures cited in this purport: Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam

It is clearly declared here by the Supreme Lord that in devotional service there is no distinction between the lower or higher classes of people. In the material conception of life, there are such divisions, but for a person engaged in transcendental devotional service to the Lord, there are not. Everyone is eligible for the supreme destination. In the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam it is stated that even the lowest, who are called caṇḍālas (dog-eaters), can be elevated by association with a pure devotee. Therefore devotional service and guidance of a pure devotee are so strong that there is no discrimination between the lower and higher classes of men; anyone can take to it. The most simple man taking center of the pure devotee can be purified by proper guidance. According to the different modes of material nature, men are classified in the mode of goodness (brāhmaṇas), the mode of passion (kṣatriyas, or administrators), the mixed modes of passion and ignorance (vaiśyas, or merchants), and the mode of ignorance (śūdras, or workers). Those lower than them are called caṇḍālas, and they are born in sinful families. Generally, those who are born in sinful families are not accepted by the higher classes. But the process of devotional service and the pure devotee of the Supreme God are so strong that all the lower classes can attain the highest perfection of life. This is possible only when one takes center of Kṛṣṇa. One has to take center completely of Kṛṣṇa. Then one can become much greater than great jñānīs and yogīs.

What this verse teaches

People of sinful birth also can attain Kṛṣṇa. What to speak of qualified people? So worship Kṛṣṇa directly.

In thematic compilations 3

Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead

  • People of even sinful birth can attain Kṛṣṇa’s abode by taking His shelter. (9.32 māṁ hi pārtha vyapāśritya...)

Bhakti, the Topmost Yoga

  • Even the lowborn people can attain the supreme destination by taking to bhakti. (9.32 māṁ hi pārtha vyapāśritya...)

The Five Topics

  • Īśvara’s special favor to the devotees (9.29-32)
Śrīla Prabhupāda lectures 1

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda © The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International.